The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-08-21
EDWARD H. Johnson.
4 Celebrated Crime OF Twelve Years
Ago Recalled.
How tho Crook Escaped from the
Ponitentisry and wns Recspt-
ured Last Thureday.

The APPEAL Of Friday contained a
special from Nashville announcing the
capture OF Edward II. Johnson, at
Cincinnati, by Chiei of Police O. d.
Whalen, Of Louisville. The arrest
opened another chapter In one Of the
most remarkable criminal cases on rec
ord in Tennessee, and closely identi-
fed with Memphis. Johnson's crime,
first arrest and subsequent release
from the peniteEtisry and hight were
inus given in fhe Nashville American:
IoHSsoN's CRiMs.
Twelve years ago the city Of Mem.
phis was thrown into state Of intense
excitement by cowsrdly attempt TO
murder and succeeefu ROBBERY Of a
clerk In the express office. A few
weeks previous two men, ostensibly
from Louisville, opened an Office on
Madison street for the purpose OF spec.
ulatipg In catils, under the name OF
johnson Il Morris. They received q
good many money packages by ex-
press, and on the morning In question
the money clerk csme into their Office
with bis ssehel AMI proceeded to de-
liver a package. The curtains were
put down and the door was closed be-
hind him. He suspected noShing
wrong, and was ueschsrously Knocked
senseless by blow ffom q hstchet In
the hands Of Johnson. He fell uncon.
ecious end the two men relieved the
ssGhel Of Sis, 600 and walked quietly
out OF the back door, leaving their
victim, ne they sup oosed dead Several
hours aiterward The unfortunate man
regained consciousness, and though
too weak from loss OF blood to walk,
dragged himself 10 the mont door,
which he opened and was found by q
passerby. The police searched high
and low for John son and Morris, but
they had hsd. Aftefwsrd they were
TRAcxD TO TEXAS,
and both captured and brought back
and sentenced to the penitentiary for
fifteen years each.
Only few years OF bis time was
served b. fore Johnson copnived with
the driver OF furnitdie wagon at the
penit6ntiary TO allow M TO hide I'M
der the seat and made his escspe,
only 70 be recspturSd alter years
liberty. The driver, who had aided
in his escape, wss tried and convicted
ard Is today serving out his term.
His partner, Morris, is also complet
ing his term.
The Leeislatnra Of 1895 pissed CO
act entitled an act ITO allow convicB
in the penitentiary credit 10 DIM.
mutton of their tentences" The act
provides: "That any prisoner re-
lessed on the good time granted by
this Law shall be- conside'ed on parole
until the maximum period OF his SEN
tence has expi ed. and should he 10
the interim commit a fresh crime,
upon conviction thereof he shall be
treated as an escaped convict, owing
services 30 the state" etc. II further
provides: THAT the warden, In com.
putting tho diminution Of time for
those convic,s now in the peniteDtisry,
shall allow the good time made, etc +,
the came az II tnis law had been in ef-
feet q, the commencement Of their
sentences."
II 10 raid, though not substantiated
In the trial, that the law was first sug.
geeted by JohbfoD, and after i,s pas
sage he At ones prelen,e5la petition for
writ OF h-beas corpus g. procure bis
release. He hsd then three years Ia
serve, bat In the petitio1 clzimsd that
II the "gOud ime" was allowed him,
In o5e ~ CO 70 the lsw, he should be
a free mRu The case was heard be-
fore Judge Reid, ia the cir nit court,
on February "a, 1886 and decided Ia
favor Of johnson. Veftrsea K Yer
treep, attorncye for the State, argued
tbR, tie cleuse afec ing the past time
OF coEvicts was unoonstituti Jnsl, ON
the ground that tbs a., specifically
stated that Il should take effect from
and after lis passage; hence could moi
apply 10 the time preceding IT, pssage
Judge Reid delivered Rn elaborate
opinion, which was pub ished In the
American OF the time, definiug his res
soma for granting this writ. The State al
once appealed TO the Supreme Conrt
which was then in sss'i'n, and asked
that action on the writ ba suspended
sn.!l tho Supreme Cour, pass upoT
the Gaze. Judge Reid refused TO q an
the request, ifsuod this writ, AMI
JOHNSON WAS RKLKAsKD
from the peuitsutiary. Within forty
eight hours thereaf or the suprem,
Court decided the question, reversing
Reid's d,cIee, but Johnson had
skipped, aud from February 20, 1886
until yesterday, hae been free man
notwithsisn ding every efi0It had beer
made 20 app ehsnd him.
The Cincinnati Eaqlirer ri Friday
...-also devoted a coiumn and half u
tho notorious criminal. The frat job
which brought him 20 public notice
was done In 1885. Ia st Louis h,
and a pal ut ibst time managed TO stes
the fat tum Of $4,000 from deliver,
clerk oil the Southern Express Com
pany. Jol neon YVES arrested and con
yiclel OF participation In the I'D, 40,
Was septsnced 20 twenty.one years n
the Missouri penitentiAry at Jefferson
City.
After "doibg" eighteen month
Johnson weakened, and, alter turn
ing up meet oil
TIE STOLEN tTUFT,
secured bic feltase. He was not hear,
from again until 1873. II was tbon iha
he committed the robbery and NJ
tempt Vt murder for which he wa
sentenced TO eighteen years In tn
penitentiary.
The Rnquirer, after reviewing th,
decision Of the Supreme Court whlcl
made Johnson an escaped convict
says:
"a reward Of $500 was offered 10
biz aTarcet.
PHOTOGRAPHS or THKFCGiTiyR
and a complete description Of hin
were sent 10 the poles authorities o
ak tbs lager cities. About yea
$50 Chief Whslen, Of Louisville, "a
ceiyed one II theaa photos and cirou
lars from Chief KaTrigap, OF Mach
VILE, Tenn. All this time WhaleI
has bsen endeayoring TO run his mat
10 earth. Auy numbsr Of false clue